FUGITIVE HEIR CAUGHT CONVICTED RAPIST FOUND IN MEXICO BY BOUNTY HUNTER.

Byline: Grace Lee and Rachel Uranga Staff Writers

Max Factor heir Andrew Luster's five months on the run ended early Wednesday in Mexico, where bounty hunters confronted him in the seaside resort town where he had been surfing and living the beach life he loved.

The 39-year-old great-grandson of movie makeup legend Max Factor had fled Ventura County on Jan. 3, before he was convicted of drugging, raping and videotaping three young women, and sentenced to 124 years in prison. He was arrested in Puerto Vallarta, where Hawaii-based bounty hunter Duane ``Dog'' Chapman and four assistants cornered him.

Mexican authorities said the bounty hunters followed Luster from the Motel Los Angeles, where he'd been staying, dragged him from the white Volkswagen Jetta he'd rented, sprayed him with Mace and handcuffed him.

The ruckus, caught on videotape by Chapman's crew, roused neighbors who called police, leading to the arrest of all six men as they were heading to the airport four miles outside town.

At the $35-a-night Motel Los Angeles, assistant manager Oscar Lopez said in a telephone interview that he found a video camera, videotape and rolls of film in Room 20, where Luster was registered as David Carrera - who appeared to be an easy-going, well-educated man who was on vacation.

``He would go to the beach, with his surfboard and his shorts, every day,'' Lopez said. ``He is my friend.''

By midafternoon Wednesday, swarms of camera crews, reporters and police crowded the lobby of the motel, asking about the wealthy fugitive from Southern California who supported himself with trust fund money.

U.S. officials said the FBI was on Luster's trail and had expected to arrest him Wednesday but the bounty hunters acted first. It was unclear where Luster was hiding before arriving in Puerto Vallarta, where he had been for about a month.

He had been under house arrest, wearing an electronic monitoring device, when he fled his Mussel Shoals home, taking his summer clothes, his dog and his collection of Chumash art.

``If he was smarter, he would have gone somewhere more exotic, to a place without so many tourists,'' Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks said during an afternoon news conference in Ventura.

``But if he was smarter, he wouldn't have committed the crimes. He was in a place with tourists and a lot of young women. It's about what I would have expected of him.''

Ralph Boelter, the Los Angeles FBI special agent in charge, said none of Luster's $1 million bail would go to the bounty hunters, although they are eligible to receive a $10,000 reward posted by federal and county authorities.

But Beth Smith, wife of the lead bounty hunter, said they expected to recover $150,000 to $200,000 for Luster's capture as well as an additional $75,000 in expenses.

She has retained two attorneys to represent her husband, her 25-year-old stepson Leland Chapman and her brother-in-law Tim Chapman, who were part of the operation.

Bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico and local authorities were considering filing kidnapping charges against Chapman and his crew.

Smith said the trio - accompanied by two cameramen - had combed all the hotels in Puerto Vallarta after receiving a tip and spotted Luster in the lobby of the Motel Los Angeles.

Boelter said the FBI got a tip about Luster's whereabouts June 10 from an American couple vacationing in Mexico, who had gotten their photograph taken with him. An agent assigned to Guadalajara was already on his way to Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday morning.

He said U.S. authorities would not help the bounty hunters gain their release from jail in Mexico.

``We want private citizens to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement, but not the hands,'' Boelter said.

Brooks said he did not know when Luster would return to Los Angeles - he still faces deportation or extradition from Mexico - but on his return, he could immediately begin serving his prison term.

Luster's attorney, Roger Jon Diamond, said if Luster had not been captured, he would have missed Friday's deadline for his final court appeal opportunity.

``For the purpose of an appeal, it was very good timing,'' Diamond said Wednesday.

After Luster's Jan. 21 sentencing on 86 of the 87 counts against him, Diamond continued to file appeals.

Diamond, who said he was surprised by Luster's capture, will not accompany Luster back from Mexico.

``Since he left, we've had no communication whatsoever,'' Diamond said. ``I've had no idea where he was.''

Barry Novack, who is representing one of Luster's victims, Shawna Doe, said his client was relieved that Luster will serve out his sentence.

Shawna Doe said that while Luster had the luxury of fleeing from his crimes, she would never be able to escape her own memories.

``She must live with the horror every minute of her life,'' Novack said.

Staff Writer Mariel Garza contributed to this report.

Grace Lee, [phone]

grace.lee(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) Found by a bounty hunter, Max Factor Cosmetics heir and convicted rapist Andrew Luster is being held in Mexico for extradition back to the United States. His attorney says he will appeal his conviction.

Guillermo Arias/Associated Press

(2 -- color) Duane ``Dog'' Chapman considers himself the ``greatest bounty hunter in the world.''

Map:

MEXICO - Puerto Vallarta

Fugitive captured